Grand parade shines with floats, bands, legends

The Canton Repository Grand Parade included a colorful array of floats along with marching bands and professional football legends.

Repository staff report

CANTON Weather alternated from sunny to overcast and back again, but the climate was unable to dim the spirit of The Canton Repository Grand Parade on Saturday morning.

For more than two hours, float after float, marching band after marching band and NFL legend after NFL legend cruised along to cheers and waves and smiles on a route stretching from downtown Canton to the 25th Street NW area.

Kids and adults wrapped themselves in blankets. Other children positioned themselves on the shoulders of parents for a better view. And Hall of Fame inductees of both yesterday and today drew the most attention, including Kurt Warner, the NFL Cinderella story, who humbly and politely thanked fans for showering him with adulation. A permanent grin was plastered on the mug of Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys. The man known for his flashy personality rode in a retro convertible, attracting a tide of applause in the wake of his team's famous cheerleaders.

Here are some of the other memorable scenes along the route:

Tribute to World War II

Amanda Perry, 36, of Canton, dressed as "Rosie the Riveter" and represented the MAPS Air Museum.

Riding with her father, Doug Perry, the daughter said it was an honor to be in the parade again this year. Her dad was attired in honor of General Douglas MacArthur.

Applying makeup and styling her hair in the fashion of the iconic "Rosie" took about 90 minutes in the early morning hours. But she said it was a minor chore for the reward of making the young and old smile. She recalled the response she garnered in the 2016 parade.

"It actually makes me teary," the younger Perry said. During the parade, "they'd be doing the arm (pose), women and girls all along the route ... from beginning to end. Every time we do this we have women who come up and they say my grandmother was a 'Rosie,' my mother was a 'Rosie' or my great grandmother was a 'Rosie.'"

She also noted that elderly women who toiled in factories during World War II waved at her from wheelchairs at Canton Christian Home.

"It's huge that they feel like they're being remembered because that was so long ago," Amanda Perry said. — Ed Balint

Vikings fanatic

Dwight Gorder, a member of the Pro Football's Ultimate Fan Association, was eager to participate in his first Hall of Fame parade.

Attired in the colors of the Minnesota Vikings, purple and gold, the 51-year-old Gorder stood among a throng of fellow football fans. With No. 65 emblazoned on his chest and a goatee tinted gold, the Minneapolis resident beamed excitement, smiling boyishly.

"Hopefully, I'll make some people and kids smile and make their days a little brighter," he said. "I didn't realize until this weekend what a big deal (the parade) is." — Ed Balint

Wheel gymnastics

Casey Crowe, 17, was among the most unique parade participants.

A member of the Illinois-based CirquesExperience Wheel Jam, Crowe practiced the obscure sport of wheel gymnastics before Saturday's event, spinning in what appeared to be an oversized hula-hoop made of aluminum and rubber coating.

The teen explained that wheel gymnastics is a competitive sport. Crowe started a gym wheel club at the Chicago high school he attends. This was his second trip to the Canton parade.

What does it take to become proficient at wheel gymnastics? "A couple of injuries and a lot of sweat," he said, balancing his feet on the wheel frame. "But like anyone who has the drive to do it, I would say you could make the way to being skilled at it."

And how taxing is it? "I would say the people carrying the tubas have a harder time than me, but you get a workout." — Ed Balint

Mother and daughter

Betty Gross, 85, of Jackson Township, and her granddaughter represented parts of four generations at the parade.

"I've been coming here forever," Gross said, clutching a copy of the parade lineup in her hand. She's a longtime fan of the Jackson Township High School marching band.

Gross' granddaughter, Christy Harp, 35, of Jackson Township, said the family holds to its own parade rituals.

"We joke that we have to stop at the same restaurant, park in the same spot, put our chairs in the exact same spot because if you mention you're going to do it differently, someone acts like the world is going to end."

Kids love parades

Janet Fisher, 61, of Alliance, sat along Cleveland Avenue NW, her 18-month-old granddaughter nestled in a blanket on her lap.

The youngster squinted at a Massillon Tigers balloon towering overhead. A steady rhythm of percussion filled the air.

Fisher said that experiencing the parade with her granddaughter is special: "To see her face, to see that smile, that look of wonder when she's staring at something and doesn't know what it is." — Ed Balint

Polar Bear pride

Two floats sparkled with the colors of Jackson High School, representing the state champion basketball and baseball teams.

Bill Gamble, head baseball coach, said it's a great honor to be recognized and participate in the parade.

"It's just really humbling to be in this event," he said. "We know the history of it.

"These are the things this group (of students will remember) for the rest of their lives. They will be able to bring their kids back and let them know they were in the parade." — Ed Balint

Jason Taylor fan

Ron Deitrick, 54, sat in a chair, applauding the former Miami Dolphins star Jason Taylor as he rode past within 15 feet. But it was the second time the lifelong Miami fan had seen the leanly-muscled Taylor up close.

The first time came when Taylor was early in his NFL playing career. Deitrick received a call from his brother that Taylor was visiting one of the player's relatives in Canton in the Maryland Avenue area.

Wearing a No. 99 jersey in honor of Taylor, he fondly recalled that encounter. "I was so excited," Deitrick said. "I tried to get over there as fast as I could.

Taylor was "really laid-back," he said. More than a decade later, the Canton resident cherishes the memory. "It holds a special place in my heart."

Next to Deitrick was his wife, Bonnie, 53, a passionate fan of the Oakland Raiders.

"It's all good as long as we don't play each other," she said of the Dolphins and Raiders.

"They were the bad boys," she said of her attraction to the Raiders. "They had cool uniforms ... and they were rough and tough." — Ed Balint

Never gets old

Clarence Jackson has been attending the Hall of Fame parade since the 1970s. That's when the Alabama native moved to Stark County.

And seeing gridiron heroes never gets old, he said. Jackson voiced support for former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis, a 2017 Hall of Fame inductee.

"I never thought I'd see him in real life," the Cantonian said. "It's just beautiful; everyone here is nice in Canton." — Ed Balint

More Taylor fans

Steve Beeler, 54, and his daughter, Cristy Beeler, 29, both of Pennsylvania, were in Canton for the induction of Jason Taylor.

The father and daughter both wore gleaming white Miami Dolphins jerseys stamped with No. 99. The elder Beeler was impressed with the scope of the parade.

"We live in a smaller town," he said. "Parades don't amount to a whole lot; this is nice." — Ed Balint

Balloons

Workers preparing to inflate the balloons in a parking lot off Sixth Street SW between Cleveland Avenue and Market Avenue N encountered football fans from New Jersey who inquired about when and where to place their chairs for the Grand Parade. When the workers recommended arriving by 5 or 6 a.m., the fans hesitated. They didn't realize they'd need to arrive that early, the workers said.

Geoff Stoyle with Dynamic Displays, the manufacturer of the balloons, said about 3 a.m. that eight or nine hoses were hooked up to fill the balloons, which take differing times to fill. Fans give the balloons their shape, he said, adding that the balloons will be guided through the 2.2-mile parade.

"It's an early start. I'm always impressed with this parade because the people are on the street at 1 in the morning with us. They're already in their lawn chairs, they're that dedicated. They bring signs that say 'Spin me,'" he said. — Lori Steineck

Rollerskaters

With a SWAT team nearby, about 80 members of Misty Basham's family take up four spots along Cleveland Avenue NW just north of 12th Street.

She and her family sat wrapped in blankets and camping bags on lawn chairs about 10 feet away from two tents.

"We always camp out here," she said, adding that she has more family seated up the street in front of Kempthorn's, more across the street at the Better Business Bureau and still more across the street from her at 15th Street.

Dallas Cowboys and McKinley Bulldogs fans, they enjoy a night of camping, pizza and cooking out, Basham said as a couple of children stood up and rolled away.

"This is where we teach our little ones to rollerskate," Basham explained.

Basham also noted that the night air was cooler than usual and almost fall-like, she said, "I am so ready for some football." — Lori Steineck

Brewster family dog

Little Alexander Stewart, 6, played football and chased an early-morning street sweeper for a short distance in the 700 block of Cleveland Avenue NW.

His dog, a mini Pinscher/poodle mixed breed named Fez, curled up on the camping bag that his father Jamie Stewart slept under, as the child's mother, Laura Stewart, announced the family as Steelers fans. They'd taken a spot between bleachers around midnight, she said, noting that they always do.

Alexander was waiting to see the balloons as he played with his toy "helicopter."

Although Alexander sees the parade every year, it was the first time he brought his dog. He said shortly after 4 a.m. that Fez liked being at the parade "pretty good, but he just fell asleep." — Lori Steineck

Walking and singing

Canton residents Jessica Davis, Lexi Mayle and Anthony Mayle had already walked the parade route between Sixth Street SW where the parade begins and 18th Street NW three times by 430 a.m.

Davis was singing loudly most of the way, drawing smiles from the people camping out along the road.

"Basically, we just walk around and talk to people and stuff," Lexi Mayle said.

She was interested in seeing the floats, Davis said she was interested in seeing the Jamaican dancers, but Anthony Mayle was more interested in the football players.

"I'm pretty excited about Terrell Davis," he said. "He made a guest appearance downtown tonight. It was pretty interesting. I've never seen an enshrinee do that before."

Walking away, he said, "We love Canton!"

Davis began belting out another song, "Good Morning, Baltimore...," the song from the musical "Hairspray," as they again headed south on Cleveland. — Lori Steineck

Overnight cookout

Dallas Cowboys fan Hillary Brooks and 15 members of his family set up camp outside CommQuest at Sixth Street NW where he works, beginning at 2 p.m. Friday.

"It rained a little bit, so we had to relocated for a second," he said, noting that the family briefly went inside the building.

But when the rain stopped, they returned curbside.

"We're having a great time right here," he said. "We're Dallas Cowboys fans, except for my wife," who hollered "Go Pittsburgh!"

He continued, "And we love this city. We've been coming out here for the last 25 years, all night long, and having a great time. We always cook out. You see our grill back here and all the food we have? We always sit here, we hang out. This is what we do." — Lori Steineck

People watching

Steelers fan Scott Smith of Canton waited streetside at Cleveland Avenue SW and Fourth Street while his daughters, Kaelie, 18, and Chloe, 14, warmed up nearby in the family van.

"Sometimes it's raining, sometimes it's warm," he said, admitting that today was a little more like fall with chillier weather.

Decked out in a yellow Steeler's hoodie, Smith passed the time waiting for the parade by listening to music and playing solitaire on his phone.

Smith said he comes to the same spot on the parade route, camping out and watching other early parade-goers. "We get a kick out of that more than anything, seeing some of these people walking up and down," he said, laughing as a trio of young people wandered by singing. "It's something we've been doing since the kids were little." — Lori Steineck

Late night

Casey Halter of Canton stayed up late Friday night enjoying First Friday festivities in downtown Canton. Then she had only three hours of sleep. She made a quick stop for a box of a dozen donuts at MaryAnn Donuts on Fulton Drive NW near Whipple Avenue NW and got some iced coffee with two shots of espresso at Starbucks. Then with her husband and son she staked out a spot on the east of Cleveland Avenue NW near 22nd Street NW shortly after 8 a.m, about a block from their home. On the northern end of the route, good viewing spots are easier to find without camping out all night for them. Halter says she's seen the parade her entire life and watched from the northern end of the route each of the past 10 years. And the last several years she always brings a box of MaryAnn Donuts.

"This is like tradition," Halter said, pointing to two football-shaped, chocolate icing-covered cream sticks from MaryAnn Donuts with the letters of HOF in frosting on them. "They look pretty good. ... You have to live it up." — Robert Wang

Early warning

If you weren't paying attention, Emily Schwab, 5, of North Canton would have let you know the parade balloons were approaching.

The little red-head girl got excited on seeing the large green balloon sponsored by Synchrony Bank after the first football player balloon several blocks away.

The volunteers carrying the MaryAnn Donuts banner walked by the spectators around 21st Street NW.

"Aren't you going to be throwing donuts to the crowd? I mean come on," Amy Welker, 46, of North Canton quipped.

No donuts were forthcoming.

Then came the CirquesExperience gymnastic team from Chicago sponsored by MaryAnn Donuts. The gymnasts rolled around on the inside of circular apparatus up Cleveland Avenue.

"Oh my gosh. that looks so fun!" Welker said. "You would die in one of those. I mean I want one."

Welker, said she's been attending the parade on and off "since birth." She complimented the police officers and firefighters from several Stark County communities for "keeping some of the wildness" of long ago "off the route." She said she marched the "hard three miles" in the parade as a member of the McKinley High School marching band before she graduated in 1989. So she had an encouraging cheer for all the bands even if they were from rival schools.

"Nice job, Bears!" Welker told members of the Jackson High School marching band. — Robert Wang

The Browns

The St. Helen Unicycle Drill Team of Newbury came by with unicyclists holding hands and even tossing footballs to each other. But a unicyclist wearing a Cleveland Browns jersey dropped a football onto the street.

"Do you have any free samples (of lottery tickets)" he shouted to one of the men riding the float.

"We ran out," the man replied.

Whitehead's 9-year-old daughter Emily danced to the music of the Alliance marching band. — Robert Wang

'Spin it!'

The crowd near 21st Street NW, especially children, regularly pleaded for volunteers pulling the massive balloons up Cleveland Avenue to spin them. "Spin it! Spin it!" they would repeatedly yell. When the Aultman Health Foundation volunteers spun their 125th Birthday Cake balloon around, it garnered mass applause. But some units like the Beaver Excavating beaver float or M.K. Morse's Golden Dragoon Balloon could not be spun around. "You're letting the kids down," one man said in jest. "Do it for the children."

But the two volunteers with the ARE Accessories banner spun their banner around, pleasing the crowd. — Robert Wang

The rival McKinley High School fans in the crowd responded, "Let's go Pups. Let's go Pups!"

And when the Obie the Tiger balloon came by, the crowd chanted, "Deflate it! Deflate it!" — Robert Wang

Autograph

The crowd by 21st Street NW erupted when enshrinee Kurt Warner came into view, sitting in an open car with his wife Brenda.

"Congratulations!" a woman screamed.

A man wearing a referee's shirt escorting Warner's vehicle saw a man, apparently wearing a St. Louis Rams jersey hold up another jersey, hoping Warner would sign it. The escort halted the vehicle, went to go retrieve the jersey and brought it to Warner. He signed it and the crowd applauded. — Robert Wang

Perry proud

Tiffani Blackford, 26, of Canton, was thrilled when her alma mater's marching band, the Perry High School Panthers approached.

"Perry Panthers!" she screamed. She gestured for her children. "Here comes Mommy's school!"

She said she graduated in 2010 after playing basketball there and doing some cheerleading.

"I love it. It brings back memories," she said. "Band's still good. ... I don't care how old I get. I love my school." — Robert Wang

'We are blessed'

As the parade, ended shortly before 11 a.m., Rodney Napier, a longtime Stark County businessman who now lives in Miami Beach, was helping an elderly woman down from a coach bus and into a Yukon Denali SUV just outside the Ritzy Car Wash at 1920 Cleveland Ave. NW. He said he's seen the parade every year since 1979 when he graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas. He owned the property from 1992 to 2001 but sold it with a deed restriction that guaranteed that he and his family would have access to the space as a viewing spot during each annual Grand Parade. People there were disassembling the tables and fence set up for their viewing party.

"It's a proud moment for Canton, Ohio every year," Napier said, also expressing admiration for the emerging Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village and the leadership of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "We are blessed to have the presence of (Pro Football Hall of Fame President) David Baker. — Robert Wang